Body manipulator



' such bed sores.

2,785,417 BODY MANEPULATOR Isaac Bnrston, Pasadena, Calif. Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 437,979 6 Qlaims. (Cl. -64) The present invention relates to a new and improved body manipulator. More specifically, it relates to a device which is designed to facilitate body manipulation of poliomyelitis patients while they are inside of an iron lung type of respirator.

Many patients with poliomyelitis are critically ill for extremely long periods of time and even simple nursing procedures seriously tax their strength. Frequently, they cannot be out of an iron lung or other respirator for more than a very short period. These factors make the changing of bed linens, the use or a bedpan, etc, exceedingly painful to many of these patients, particularly since, as a class, it is difiicult to move the lower parts of their bodies without discomfort.

It is a broad object of the instant invention to produce a device of the class described; that is, a body manipulator which can be used inside of an iron lung type of respirator and in other locations for lifting patients Without extreme discomfort to them. Another object of the invention is to create a body manipulator which is comparatively easy to manufacture and operate.

Many respirator patients tend to develop severe bed sores due to prolonged periods of lying in bed. Another object of the invention is to teach a device which can be used in suspending a patient a short distance above his bed, as inside of a respirator, in order to tend to prevent Further objects of the instant invention, as well as the advantages of it, will be more fully apparent from the balance of this specification, including the app-ended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a body manipulator of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an isometric plan view illustrating the operation of the end supports shown in Pig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed view illustrating gear means capable of being employed with the instant invention.

Briefly, it may be summarized that the manipulator of the instant invention consists of two upstanding, parallel end supports, each of which consists of a troughlike bar bent in the general shape of an arc of a circle, these bars being connected at their ends by rigid spacing rods. Each end support carries adjacent each end thereof a movable carrier which is attached to a gear box or other device mounted upon the end support for moving these movable carriers. Each carrier on an end support is connected to a corresponding carrier on the other end support by a pivotally mounted extensible parallel bar. Strap means, for use in suspending a patient, are disposed between these extensible parallel bars.

Another object of the instant invention is to create a device as described in the preceding paragraph which serves to accomplish the broad general aims set forth pre-- viously. A related object is to create a device in which various equivalent structures are substituted for certain of the members and means described above, as will be more fully shown in this specification. I

With reference to Fig. l of the drawings, it is seen that the body manipulator it; of the invention consists of parallel upstanding end supports 11, each comprising a bar 12 formed in the general shape of an arc of a circle having ends 1 The adjacent ends of these end supports 11 are connected together by means of spacing rods rigidly attached to the ends 14 and to each other as shown.

Each of the end supports 11 carries at its midpoint a gear box 16 from which there project a handle 17 and cords 18 carried by troughs 19 formed within the upper surface of the bar 12 of the end support 11. Perhaps this construction is most clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Here it is clearly indicated that a single cord 18 projects from each side of a gear box 16 towards the adjacent end 14 of the end support 11 upon which the individual gear box 16 is located.

As is best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, each cord 18 is attached to a movable carrier 21] mounted on an end support 11. Each carrier 2% consists of a U-shaped body section 21 having dependent rollers 22 riding within the trough 1.9 of the bar 12 and having rollers 23 positioned on the side of the bar 12 removed from the trough 19 so that the carrier 2% can move only along this bar 12. Each cord 18 is attached to a carrier 20 by projecting through an aperture 24 formed within a projecting tab 2-5 of the carrier positioned so as to be engaged by such cord.

Each of the carriers 29 contains a universal joint 26 connecting the carrier with an extensible parallel bar 28 which consists generally of a hollow tube 29 within the ends of which there project cylindrical rods 30 attached directly to the universal joint 26. The function of these extensible bars 28 is most clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings where there is shown disposed between the end supports 11 a generally parallel configuration carrying a number of web straps 31 which are generally loosely disposed between these bars 28. When one of these bars 28 is raised relative to the other, the web straps 31 may become taut due to an increase in the distance between the bars 28.

The gear box 16 employed with the invention contains a gear arrangement, as is best indicated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, as consisting of pulleys 32, which are designed to carry the cords 18, positioned adjacent to the middle of the end support 11 and connected by means of shafts 34 projecting through bearings 35 to gears 36 and 37 rotatably disposed within an appropriate shaft housing 38 as shown. The gear 36 is driven by an idler gear 39 pivotally mounted within this housing 38 and the idler gear 39 is, in turn, driven by means of a second gear 41) mounted upon a hollow shaft 41 also pivotally mounted within the housing 38. The gear 37 is adapted to be driven by means of another gear 42 positioned adjacent to the gear 40 on the shaft 41 but spaced from it by means of a spacer ring 43. Both of the gears 40 and 42 contain internal teeth 4 5 which are adapted to be engaged by means of projecting protuberances 46 and 47 on a movable key 45 which is mounted by means of a pivot 48 within a cavity 49 formed in a projection 50 of the handle 17 fitting within the hollow shaft 41. in this construction, the protuberances 46 and 47 project from the interior of the shaft 4-1 out through a slot 52 in this shaft in engagement with the teeth 44 as they are used. This movable key 45 is normally biased so as to project through the slot 52 by means of a spring 53 positioned between the key 45 and the projection 50.

Both of the gears 36 and 37 may be locked in position, if desired, by means of dogs 55 mounted on the gear housing 38 by means of pivots 56 and projecting through slots 57 in this housing. These dogs 55 may be merely disposed in a horizontal plane so that the arms 58 positioned outside of the housing 38, and preferably outside of the gear box 16, may be rotated, placing the ends 59 of these dogs 55 either into or out of contact with the teeth in the gears 36 and 37 so as to lock or release these gears, preventing or permitting the pulleys 32 to unwind when the carriers 20 have been moved to an upward location.

In operating the gear construction shown in Fig. 3, the

Patented Mar. 19, 1957.

' 3 handle 17 may be in the position shown with the movable key projecting through the slot 52 formed within the movable shaft 41 with the projection 47 fitting the internal teeth 44 of the gear 40 and with the projection 46 fitting within a cavity 51 formed in the casing 38 opposite. the slot 52. With the various elements positioned as indicated, when the handle 17 is rotated the pulley 32 at the top of Fig. 3 is rotated by virtue of motion of this handle. When it is desired to rotate both of the pulleys 32 indicated, this handle 17 may be pressed inwardly towards the casing 38, forcing the projection 47 down on the underside of the spacer ring 43,. As this motion continues, the projection 47 will fit within the internal teeth 44 of the gear 42 and the projection 46 will be in the position formerly occupied by the projection 47. It may be necessary to turnslightly the handle 17 in order to shift the elements, as indicated, because of possible misalignment of the internal teeth 44 in the gears 40 and 42. in this position, when the handle 17 is rotated, the pulleys 32 rotate in opposite directions, serving to raise or lower the carriers 20 positioned upon the same end support either up or down simultaneously. When the handle 17 is pushed to the extreme right position, the projection 46 fits within the internal teeth 44. of the gear 42 and the projection 47 fits within a cavity 51 at the far right of the casing 38. In this construction, as the handle 17 is rotated, only the pulley 32 shown at the bottom of Fig. 3 is rotated while the handle 17 is moved.

Those skilled in the art will realize that a variety of means may be substituted for the particular gear means illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. As an example of such other means, it is possible to employ various electric motors, hydraulic systems and the like, to move the mov- 'able carriers 20 from a lower position to an upper position. Such substitution is considered to be within the skill of the art and is to be considered as part of the invention insofar as it is defined by the appended claims.

The bars 12 are preferably formed in the shape of an arc of a circle of more'than 180, and the web straps 31 are preferably of longer dimension than the distance between the adjacent ends 14. The exact length of these. web straps 31 may be varied within comparatively wide limits. However, they must be at least as long as the diameter of the arc of the circle referred to. By virtue of the construction of the bars 32 and the web straps 31, these web straps are normally in a loose condition when the extensible bars 28. are positioned substantially horizontally. Because of such looseness, they do not irritate or otherwise disturb a patient when the extensible bars are in such a lower position. Because of the length of these web straps 31, the extensible bars 28 may be readily moved within the construction shown from a horizontal plane where they are parallel to one another in virtually any desired manner, and may be either individually or jointly lifted for any desired purpose. Such flexibility is quite desirable for use in changing linens, bedpans, etc., and enables a patient to be moved in any desired manner with a minimum of difficulty so as to be positioned best for the particular manipulation being carried out. if desired, the herein described construe tion may be left with the extensible bars 28 remaining in any position so as to support a patient for an extended period as in the treatment of bed sores.

Those skilled in the art will realize that the herein described invention is capable of wide modifications within the scope of the instant disclosure. Such modifications are to be considered as part of the inventive concept insofar as they are defined by the appended claims. The instant invention is capable of use on an open bed.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A bodymanipulator, which comprises: two upstanding parallel end supports, each of which consists of a bar bent in the shape of an arc, of a circle and having ends and a midpoint; spacing rods connecting the adjacent ends of said bars; carriers mounted on each of said bars adjacent to said ends so as to be movable upon said bars; gear means mounted on each of said bars at the midpoint of each of said bars for moving said carriers; means connecting said gear means and said carriers; extensible parallel bars piv'otally mounted to each of said carriers on each of said support bars; and strap means connecting said extensible parallel bars.

2. A body manipulator, which comprises: two upstanding parallel end supports, each of which consists of a bar bent in the shape of an arc of a circle and having ends; and a midpoint; spacing rods rigidly connecting the adjacent ends of said bars; movable carriers having rollers mounted on each of said bars so as to be capable of motion between each of said ends and the adjacent midpoint of a bar; a gear box mounted on each of said bars at h of said midpoints; cord means attaching each of carriers and the adjacent gear box whereby each of said carriers may be moved on the bar on which it is wanted by motion transmitted from said gear box; ex-

tensible parallel bars pivotally mounted on one of said carriers on each of said end supports; and strap means positioned between said extensible parallel bars.

3. A. device as defined in claim 2, wherein said end support bars are of a generally trough-like configuration.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said gear boxes are provided with means for preventing rotation of said carriers, whereby said carriers may be held at any position on said bars.

5. A body manipulator, which comprises: two upstanding parallel end supports, each of which consists of a bar bent in the shape of an arc of a circle and having ends and a midpoint; spacing rods rigidly connecting the adjacent ends of said bars; a plurality of carriers, One

of said carriers being positioned adjacent each end Of each of said bars; roller means movably mounting each of said carriers to said adjacent bar for movement of said carrier along said bar; a pair of pulleys mounted on each of said bars at each of said midpoints; means for driving each of said pulleys independently of the remaining pulleys; cord means attaching each of said carriers and the adjacent pulley; extensible parallel bars pivotally mounted to each of said carriers; and strap means connecting said extensible parallel bars.

6. in a body manipulator for operation in a zone having restricted headroom, the combination of: a horizontally disposed, substantially rectangular frame; two parallel upstanding arcuate end members positioned at each end of said frame and attached to the corners thereof; a plurality of carriers mounted on and movable along the upper periphery of said arcuate end mrnebers, one of said carriers being adjacent each of said corners; a pair of pulleys mounted on each of said end members at the midpoint thereof, the axes of rotation of said pulleys being located within the circular segment defined by said arcuate end members; means for driving each of said pulleys independently of the remaining pulleys; cord means attaching each of said carriers and the'ad jacent pulley; extensible parallel bars pivotally mounted to each of said carriers; and strap means connecting said extensible parallel bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,847 Dohoney Mar. 31, 1903 772,948 Martin Get. 25, 1904 1,103,296 Kindrick July 14, 1914 1,541,938 Frederick June 16, 1925 2,035,116 Elmick Mar. 24, 1936 2,261,297 Seib Nov. 4, 1941 2,601,684 Martin July 1, 1952 7 2,683,882 Smith July 20, 1954" FOREIGN PATENTS 105,583 Germany Sept. 29, 1899 

